SpaceX Aims Late-Night Falcon 9 Launch from Kennedy — Could Mark Space Coast’s 100th Orbital Flight

SpaceX is targeting a late-night Falcon 9 launch from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, carrying 29 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. The planned window opens at 10:01 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, and remains open through 2:01 a.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. The rocket is expected to fly southeast, and sonic booms are not anticipated for Titusville, Merritt Island or the Melbourne area.

Launch details

• Mission: SpaceX Falcon 9 deploying 29 Starlink satellites
• Launch window: 10:01 p.m. ET Thu, Nov. 20 — 2:01 a.m. ET Fri, Nov. 21, 2025
• Trajectory: Southeast
• Location: Launch Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL
• Sonic booms expected locally: No
• Live updates: Live coverage and a countdown will begin about 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space

Why this launch matters

If it proceeds as planned, this flight would help the Space Coast approach its 100th orbital launch of the year — part of a recent run of high-profile doubleheaders and tightly spaced missions from Florida’s launch facilities.

Visibility and viewing tips

Weather, clouds and the rocket's trajectory determine how far a launch is visible. On clear nights, launches from the Space Coast can be seen as far north as Jacksonville Beach, St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, and as far south as Vero Beach, Fort Pierce and Boynton Beach. Night or pre-dawn launches often produce dramatic photos: the exhaust plume can light the sky and produce a glowing contrail.

General viewing advice:

• Arrive early to secure parking and a good vantage point.
• Use a tripod and a wide-angle lens for photos; long exposures capture the contrail well.
• Respect posted signs, avoid blocking traffic or bridges, and follow local park rules and capacity limits.

Recommended viewing locations

Beaches and riverfront parks along the Space Coast are prime spots. Below are popular vantage points grouped roughly north-to-south. Visibility depends on weather and exact flight path.

Titusville & Cocoa

• Space View Park, Titusville — face east across the Indian River
• Parrish Park and Max Brewer Bridge (both sides of the bridge have parking)
• Rotary Riverfront Park and Sand Point Park, Titusville
• Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village and downtown Cocoa waterfront

Merritt Island & Cape Canaveral

• Playalinda Beach (Canaveral National Seashore) — nearly parallel to Pad 39A; look south along the shoreline
• Jetty Park Beach and Pier, Port Canaveral (note parking fee)
• Parks on Merritt Island including Rotary Park and Kiwanis Park

Cocoa Beach & Satellite Beach

• Cocoa Beach Pier and Alan Shepard Park (parking fees may apply)
• Lori Wilson Park and Sidney Fischer Park
• Tables Beach and The Tides area in Satellite Beach

Melbourne

• Front Street Park near Melbourne Causeway
• Indialantic boardwalk and Paradise Beach Park (Howard Futch Park)

Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach and Stuart

• Ambersands Beach Park and South Beach Park (Vero Beach)
• Bridges in Vero Beach: Merrill Barber Bridge and Alma Lee Loy Bridge
• Fort Pierce Inlet State Park and many Fort Pierce shoreline parks
• Jensen Beach and Waveland Beach parks
• House of Refuge and Stuart’s A1A causeway

Volusia County (north of Brevard)

Beaches facing due south are excellent viewing locations for launches. Recommended spots include South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park and Apollo Beach, as well as riverfront parks and piers in Oak Hill, Port Orange and nearby communities.

Final tips

Check the latest radar and forecasts before you head out. If conditions change, launch times can slip or be scrubbed; monitor live updates starting about 90 minutes before the window opens for the most current status. Reporting: Rick Neale, Brooke Edwards, Eric Lagatta.